Category Archives: Reviews

Director Jerry Dugan’s new film, written by David Anderson and Gabe Burnstein is one of those deals where you really don’t know what to expect. While the title sounds just too much like the hundredth attempt to cash in on the cult and myth created by ‘Jaws’, Dolph Lundgren as the lead actor disperses most of the doubt whether it is really worth going to see it. But whether you expect a satisfying new take on shark horror, or a Dolph with his usual strong screen presence, ‘Shark Lake’ falls short. For us it is, much like one of the main themes in the film, a missed opportunity. Come on inside to find out more. Continue Reading →

Every once in a while a film comes along that stands out in the tide of new productions we see on a daily basis. Especially, but not exclusively in our genre, it seems to have become increasingly rare to find a piece of work that is original in story as well as narrative. Rick Laprade’s low budget independent horror film ‘Villanelle’ is such a singular piece of work, a literary horror film for an audience looking not for superficial scares but a horror that aims deeper. Come on inside and read our review. Continue Reading →

Cavities in the earth undeniably bear a strong, sometimes irresistible attraction for mankind. Whether it is the ancient racial memory, handed down from our forefathers who once called caves their home, or simply the fascination with the unknown, mysterious parts of our world, normally hidden from sight, that draws us in, is almost impossible to determine. Whether the hole in the ground is natural or man made seems to have no bearing. When we stare into darkness, we tend to wonder what it holds, without thinking of what might stare back at us. In Jeff Chamberlain’s ‘Abandoned Mine’, five school friends seek adventure on Halloween night in an abandoned haunted mine, only to find to their horror that the ghostly rumors may be true as they fight for survival. Expecting a plot similar to Neil Marshall’s ‘The Descent’, were pleasantly disappointed. Continue Reading →

Despite all the modern monsters created in the minds of authors today, there is something about those horrid creatures we have been afraid of, as it seems, since the dawn of time. Atrocities who’s existence is woven into the fabric of humanity since times long passed. The monster under the bed is one of those vile creatures that came into superstitious existence probably shortly after the first human raised a bedstead on legs above the floor and thereby created it’s living space. Like the bogeyman who moved in behind the world’s first closet door was installed, it has haunted children ever since. But dragging these creatures out of the dark recesses they inhabit can be tricky – for the filmmaker as much as for his characters. Continue Reading →

Last July we broke the news that Robert Conway brought his Grind-House project ‘Sickle’, starring Kane Hodder as Sheriff Sickle and Tiffany Shepis as Jenna, back from the dead after it had been on hiatus for a while. It seemed then that many had already written off the film, not realizing this is how it sometimes goes in the independent world. While the big studios simply cough up a couple of grand and move on, for any independent filmmaker the slightest hurdle can mean a serious setback, temporary at best. Be it as it may, ‘Sickle’ just had it’s world premiere at last weekend’s Phoenix Comicon and, having seen the film, it was well worth the wait. Come inside for our review of ‘Sickle’. Continue Reading →

David Miller’s new book ‘Peter Cushing: A Life in Film’ is a tribute to the legacy of an unforgettable icon who wrote history not only as the lead actor in some of the most renown cult movies of the fifties, sixties and seventies, but was also an extraordinary stage, TV, and voice actor throughout his six-decade career. Coinciding with what would have been Surrey born Peter Wilton Cushing’s 100s Birthday on May 26, the new filmography and biography is a revised edition of the ‘Peter Cushing Companion’, first published in 2000. Continue Reading →

We told you about the horror short film ‘Hunter’ from director Ryan Shovey, who also wrote the script together with Ross Alagna, late last month. ‘Hunter’ will have it’s world premiere this upcoming weekend at Shockfest in Los Angeles, and we had the opportunity to watch it early and bring you our review. Don’t worry, we hate spoilers as much as you do and avoid them best we can. Come on in and read what we think of ‘Hunter’. Continue Reading →

Darren Shan’s book ‘Zom-B’ is a light and quick read, targeted towards younger horror fans, illustrated with a set of raw minimalistic comic book style drawings, and definitely worth reading even when you are not in your teens anymore. Not only do Zombies play a big part in ‘Zom-B’, just like the title suggests, author Darren Shane brings his story back to the intentions and use of the undead of George Romero’s iconic films, addressing social problems, racism, and bullying, yet without exactly using the Zombies as a metaphor for all that is wrong with society. The plot is set in modern day London, but could as well play out in any bigger city around the world where the school building could indeed be “a cesspit”, and bullying a part of everyday life.Continue Reading →

Irish independent filmmaker Randal Plunkett gave us the opportunity to review his latest short film ‘Out There’, and we almost did not want to do it. Not because we did not like it, quite to the contrary, ‘Out There’ is brilliant. Therefore you should not be reading about it, you should see it for yourself – you really have to. Whatever we say about Randal’s newest film will take away from the experience of watching it. We promise to tread lightly and avoid spoilers. You already know the short has zombies in it, but what you don’t know is that it is really about some of the most elementary and timeless fears of man, the loss of control and the fear for someone you love. Continue Reading →

Is it – or is it not? You’ll never know, if you don’t touch it. But if you do, beware! You won’t want to close it before you’ve read the last page, and then you are frustrated that it’s over already. Don’t worry, you’re not required to have read author David Wong’s ‘John Dies at The End’ before you read his follow-up which is not a sequel. But you should, because its fun as well. I wouldn’t want to wait that long, for David Wong’s second novel is a mind bending, corner turning, zig-zagging and amazing roller coaster. There is no way to predict the next twist, or even see it coming. You may feel confused and slightly disoriented after reading the first few pages, but keep plowing forward; the story will reveal itself in a horrifying and darkly humorous way. Two college drop-outs who have the tendency to mess things up as soon as they get involved, are meant to save the world from an epidemic outbreak of a host of supernatural and paranormal forces. What they are really up against lets them wish this would rather be your usual, run-of-the-mill zombie apocalypse as some people around them prefer to believe.Continue Reading →